Scott directed the Oscar winner in five films and today, like so many other movie stars who had the honor of working with him, Washington is mourning the loss of the 68-year-old filmmaker, who jumped to his death from a Los Angeles bridge yesterday afternoon.

"Tony Scott was a great director, a genuine friend and it is unfathomable to think that he is now gone," Washington said in a statement to E! News.

"He had a tremendous passion for life and for the art of filmmaking and was able to share this passion with all of us through his cinematic brilliance. My family sends their prayers and deepest condolences to the entire Scott family."

Scott's sudden death was shocking on so many levels, not least of which because chose a well-traversed bridge in the middle of the day as the spot to end his life. He jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which connects the L.A. port district of San Pedro with the unfortunately named Terminal Island, at around 12:30 p.m.

ABC News has reported that Scott was suffering from inoperable brain cancer, but an autopsy performed today proved inconclusive pending toxicology testing and further investigation of Scott's brain.